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Partial Fractions in Laplace Transformation

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 Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Science
Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Volume -19, December 2004, Pages 87-97

Partial Fractions in Laplace Transforms

A. A. K. Majumdar
College of Asia-Pacific Management, Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University, Japan

S. M. Shahidul Islam
School of Business, Asian University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh

Abstract
This paper gives a new method of decomposing certain types of rational functions that
would prove fruitful in finding the inverse Laplace transforms of such rational
functions.

Keywords: Laplace transform, Partial fractions, Rational function.

1. Introduction
The Laplace transform method is a useful and convenient tool in solving ordinary
differential equations, particularly, the initial-value problems. In solving such
problems, one frequently encounters the inverse Laplace transform of the form
 p( s) 
L1  ,
 q(s ) 
where p(s) and q(s) are polynomials in a s (with the degree of q(s) greater than that of
p( s)
p(s). In such a case, the suggested method is to decompose into partial fractions
q(s )
(see, for example, Boyce and DiPrima [1], Braun [2], Churchill [3], Rainville and
Bedient [4] and Spiegel [5]), which then enables one to find the inverse Laplace
p( s)
transform of . Most frequently, in practical problems, the polynomial q(s) can be
q(s )

87
factored in (repeated or non-repeated) linear and quadratic polynomials in s. In such
p( s)
cases, the usual way of decomposing into partial fractions is to assume that
q(s )
p( s) r Ai t C js  Dj
= i
  2 j
 . . ., (1)
q(s ) i 1 ( as  b) j 1 (cs  ds  e)

and then the unknown constants Ai (1 ≤ i ≤ r), Cj and Dj (1 ≤ j ≤ t) are determined by

the method of undetermined coefficients. In (1), only the terms corresponding to the
linear factor of the form as + b of multiplicity i and the quadratic factor of the form
cs2 + ds + e of multiplicity j have been shown; if q(s) has other factors as well,
corresponding to each such factor, the appropriate term must be included in the partial
factorization (1).
We recall that the above method of decomposing rational functions into partial
fractions is fruitfully employed in evaluating integrations of rational functions. In
p( s)
finding the inverse Laplace transforms of rational functions of the form , the
q(s )
p( s)
usual method of decomposing into partial fractions is useful when q(s) contains
q(s )
repeated or non-repeated linear factors and/or non-repeated quadratic factors. If one or
more quadratic factors are repeated in q(s), then the usual method of decomposing
p( s)
into partial fractions, in some cases, may not be convenient.
q(s )
p( s)
In this paper, we suggest a new method of decomposing into partial fractions
q(s )
when q(s) contains one or more quadratic factors. We illustrate our procedure with the
help of some problems, and compare our method with that of the conventional one.
From the computational point of view, our method is more efficient than the usual
one.

2. Motivation Behind the New Method

In order to clarify our motivation behind the new method that we are going to present
later, we give the following examples.

88
 p( s) s2
Example (1): Let = 2
q(s ) ( s  4) 2
p( s)
The usual method of decomposing is of no help here, and the only easiest way
q(s )
 p( s) 
to find L1   is to appeal to the convolution theorem, and we get
 q(s ) 
 s2 
L1  2 2
= cos 2t * cos 2t
 (s  4) 
The determination of cos 2t * cos 2t is, however, a lengthy process.
p( s) s2  4
Example (2): Let = 2
q(s ) ( s  1)( s 2  4) 2
p( s)
Here, decomposing in the conventional way, we get
q(s )
s2  4 5 5 8
2 2 2
=–  
( s  1)( s  4) 9( s  1) 9( s  4) 3( s  4) 2
2 2 2

 p( s) 
But the above expansion does not allow us to find L1   immediately, because
 q(s ) 
 1 
to find L1  2 2
, we have to exploit the convolution theorem.
 ( s  4) 

p( s) 8
Example (3): Let = 2
q(s ) ( s  1) 3
 p( s) 
In this case, the only way to find L1   is to appeal to the convolution theorem,
 q(s ) 
and
 8 
L1  2 3
= 8 sin t * sin t * sin t ,
 ( s  1) 
and the determination of the convolution of three functions is more involved from the
computational point of view.

89
From the above three examples, it is clear that the usual method of decomposing the
p( s)
rational function into partial fractions when q(s) contains one or more repeated
q(s )
quadratic factors may, in some cases, force to find the convolution of two or more
functions. If we want to avoid such a situation, it is evident that we would require a
p( s)
special method of decomposing into partial fractions when q(s) contains one or
q(s )
more repeated quadratic factors.
From the theory of the Laplace transforms, we know that
2ks
L{t sin kt}  2 (2)
(s  k 2 ) 2
s2  k 2
L{t cos kt}  (3)
(s 2  k 2 ) 2
2k (3s 2  k 2 )
L{t 2 sin kt}  (4)
(s 2  k 2 ) 3
2s ( s 2  3k 2 )
L{t 2 cos kt}  (5)
(s 2  k 2 ) 3
Taking these formulas into consideration, we give a new method of decomposing the
p( s)
rational function into partial fractions that would be fruitful in finding the
q(s )
p( s)
inverse Laplace transform of .
q(s )

p( s)
3. New Method of Decomposing into Partial Fractions
q(s )
In view of the formulas (2) and (3), the new method of decomposing the rational
p( s)
function is as follows:
q(s )
If q(s) contains a repeated quadratic form of the form (s2 + k2)2, then in decomposing
p( s)
into partial fractions, we have to assume
q(s )

90
 p( s) As  B C ( s 2  k 2 )  Ds
= 2   . . ., (6)
q(s ) s k2 (s 2  k 2 ) 2
where the four unknown constants A, B, C and D are to be determined by the method
of undetermined coefficients. The terms on the right hand side of (6) correspond to
the single factor (s2 + k2)2 of q(s); if q(s) contains more quadratic factors each of
multiplicity two, then corresponding to each such factor, the appropriate terms are to
be added to the right hand side of (6), and of course, if q(s) contains, in addition,
repeated or non-repeated linear factors and / or non-repeated quadratic factors,
additional terms corresponding to these factors must be added to the right hand side of
(6). It may be mentioned here that, if q(s) contains the quadratic form (s2 + k2)2, the
conventional method assumes the form
p( s) As  B Cs  D
= 2 2
 2  . . .,
q(s ) s k (s  k 2 ) 2
which also involves four unknown constants.
Similarly, in view of the formulas (4) and (5), the suggested method is as follows:
If q(s) contains a repeated quadratic factor of the form (s2 + k2)3, then corresponding
p( s)
to this factor, the terms in the partial fractions decomposition of are
q(s )
p( s) As  B C ( s 2  k 2 )  Ds E (3s 2  k 2 )  Fs( s 2  3k 2 )
= 2    . . . , (7)
q(s ) s  k2 (s 2  k 2 ) 2 (s 2  k 2 )3
and the six unknown constants, A, B, C, D, E and F are to be determined by the
method of undetermined coefficients.
We now illustrate our procedure with the help of the following examples.

4. Examples
s2
Example (1) (Continued): We decompose into partial fractions as follows:
( s 2  4) 2
s2 As  B C ( s 2  4)  Ds
=  (8a)
( s 2  4) 2 s2  4 ( s 2  4) 2
To determine the unknown constant, A, B, C and D, we multiply throughout by
(s2 + 4)2 to get

s2 = (As + B)(s2 + 4) + {C(s2 – 4) + Ds} (8b)

91
and then equate from both sides of the identity (8b) the coefficients of s3, s2, s and s0.
Thus, we get the following system of four equations in four unknowns:

0 A   A  0,
B  1 ,
1  B  C   2
 ==>  1
0  4A  D  C  2 ,
0  4 B  4C   D  0.

With these values, we now have from (8a),

s2 1 ( s 2  4)
= 
( s 2  4) 2 2( s 2  4) 2( s 2  4) 2

We observe that the above form gives the inverse Laplace transform immediately,
namely,
 s2  1 1  1  1 1  s 2  4 
L1  2 2 
 L  2  L  2 2 
 ( s  4)  2  ( s  4)  2  ( s  4) 
1 1
= sin 2t + t cos 2t
4 2

Example (2) (Continued): We assume

s2  4 As  B Cs  D E ( s 2  4)  Fs
  2  (9a)
( s 2  1)( s 2  4) 2 s2 1 s 4 ( s 2  4) 2

Then, multiplying throughout by (s2 + 1)(s2 + 4)2, we get the identity:

s2 – 4 = (As + B)(s2 + 4)2 + (Cs + D)(s2 + 1)(s2 + 4) + {E(s2 – 4) + Fs}(s2 + 1) (9b)

Now, equating the coefficients of s5, s4, s3, s2, s and s0 successively from both sides of
(9b), we get the following system of six equations in six unknowns:

92
 0  AC   A  0,
  5
0 BDE  B   9 ,
0  8 A  5C  F  C  0,
 ==>  8
1  8 B  5 D  3E  D  9 ,
0  16 A  4C  F  E   1 ,
3
 
 4  16 B  4 D  4 E   F  0.
Putting these values in (9a), we get

s2  4 5 1 8 1 1 ( s 2  4)
  2    
( s 2  1)( s 2  4) 2 9 s  1 9 s 2  4 3 ( s 2  4) 2

The above expression gives the inverse Laplace transform immediately, namely,
 s2  4  5 4 1
L1  2 2 2 
=  sin t  sin 2t  t cos 2t
 ( s  1)(s  4)  9 9 3

Example (3) (Continued): We assume

8 As  B C ( s 2  1)  Ds E (3s 2  1)  Fs ( s 2  3)
=   (10a)
( s 2  1) 3 s2 1 ( s 2  1) 2 ( s 2  1) 3
Multiplying throughout by (s2 + 1)3, we get the following identity:

8 = (As + B)(s2 + 1)2 + {C(s2 – 1) + Ds}(s2 + 1) + E(3s2 – 1) + Fs(s2 – 3) (10b)

Equating from both sides of (10b) the coefficients of s5, s4, s3, s2, s and s0
successively, we get
0 A   A  0,
0  BC   B  3,
 
0  2 A  D  F  C  3,
 ==> 
0  2 B  3E   D  0,
0  A  D  3F   E  2,
 
8  B  C  E   F  0.

93
With these values, we get from (10a),

8 3 3( s 2  1) 2(3s 2  1)
= 2  
( s 2  1) 3 s  1 ( s 2  1) 2 ( s 2  1) 3

And the inverse Laplace transform is given by

 8 
L1  2 3
= 3 sin t  3t cos t  t 2 sin t.
 ( s  1) 
p( s)
So far, we have considered the partial decomposition of the rational function
q(s )
2 2 2 2 2 3
only for the cases when q(s) contains factors of the forms (s + k ) and (s + k ) . The
procedure can easily be extended to the case when q(s) contains higher powers of (s2
+ k2), using the appropriate formulas extending (2) to (5). Another case of interest is
the one in which q(s) contains second and higher powers of quadratic factors of the
form (s + a)2 + k2. Since, our interest lies in finding the inverse Laplace transform of
p( s)
the rational function , and since
q(s )

2k ( s  a )
 
L te  at sin kt 
[( s  a ) 2  k 2 ] 2
, (11)

(s  a) 2  k 2

L te at cos kt  [(s  a ) 2  k 2 ] 2
, (12)

2k[3( s  a ) 2  k 2 ]
 
L t 2 e  at sin kt 
[(s  a ) 2  k 2 ]3
, (13)

2( s  a)[(s  a ) 2  3k 2 ]
 
L t 2 e  at cos kt  , (14)
[(s  a) 2  k 2 ]3

it is clear that the partial factorization schemes, given in (6) and (7) can be applied to
this case also with the following modification: s is to be replaced by (s + a).
The procedure for the modified case is illustrated with the help of the following
examples:

94
 8
Example (4): To decompose into partial fractions, we put t = s – 1.
[( s  1) 2  1]3
Then,
8 8 3 3(t 2  1) 2(3t 2  1)
= =   ,
[( s  1) 2  1]3 (t 2  1) 3 t 2  1 (t 2  1) 2 (t 2  1) 3
where the decomposition is obtained as in Example (3) above. Therefore,
8 3 3[( s  1) 2  1] 2[3( s  1) 2  1]
=   ,
[( s  1) 2  1]3 ( s  1) 2  1 [( s  1) 2  1]2 [( s  1) 2  1]3
and the inverse Laplace transform is given by
 8 
L1  2 3
= 3e t sin t  3te t cos t  t 2 e t sin t.
[( s  1)  1] 

400 s 2
Example (5): To decompose into partial fractions, we assume
( s 2  1)[(s  1) 2  4]2
400 s 2 As  B C ( s  1)  D E[( s  1) 2  4]  F ( s  1)
=   (15a)
( s 2  1)[(s  1) 2  4]2 s2 1 ( s  1) 2  4 [(s  1) 2  4] 2
which gives, after multiplying throughout by (s2 + 1)[(s + 1)2 + 4], the following
identity:

400s2 = (As + B)[(s + 1)2 + 4]2 + [C(s + 1) + D][(s + 1)2 + 4](s2 + 1)

+ [E{s + 1)2 – 4} + F(s + 1)](s2 + 1). (15b)

Equating from both sides of (15b) the coefficients of s5, s4, s3, s2, s and s0
successively, we get
0  AC   A  16,
0  4A  B  C  D  E   B  12,
 
0  14 A  4 B  8C  2 D  2 E  F  C  16,
 ==> 
400  20 A  14 B  8C  6 D  2 E  F   D  51,
0  25 A  20 B  7C  2 D  2 E  F   E  55,
 
0  25B  5(C  D)  3E  F   F  40.

95
Therefore, from (15a), we get
400s 2 s 1 s 1 1
2 2 2
= 16 2 – 12 2 – 16 2
+ 51
( s  1)[(s  1)  4] s 1 s 1 ( s  1)  4 ( s  1) 2  4
( s  1) 2  4 s 1
– 55 2 2
– 40
[( s  1)  4] [( s  1) 2  4] 2
and the inverse Laplace transform is given by
 400s 2 
L1  2 2 2 
 ( s  1)[(s  1)  4] 
51
= 16 cos t  12 sin t  16e t cos 2t  e t sin 2t  55te t cos 2t  10te  t sin 2t.
2

5. Discussion
We present in this paper a new method of partial factorization of a rational function
p( s)
, where p(s) and q(s) are polynomials in s with degree of q(s) greater than that of
q(s )
p(s). Such a form frequently appears in the application of the Laplace transform
method in solving ordinary differential equations, where one has to find the inverse
p( s) p( s)
Laplace transform of . To do so, an efficient partial factorization of is
q(s ) q(s )
desired from which the inverse Laplace transform can be determined immediately.
p( s)
The conventional way of decomposing into partial fractions in this respect is
q(s )
sometimes useless, and in other cases, it is lengthy. From Example (1) and Example
(3), we see that partial factorization is not possible in these cases if the conventional
method is adopted and the only way to find the inverse Laplace transforms in such
cases is to appeal to the convolution theorem. On the other hand, Example (2) shows
that, proceeding in the conventional way, we are led to a situation that requires the
convolution theorem to enter into the scene, thereby making the inverse Laplace
process lengthy. By our method, these difficulties are overcome, and from the final
p( s)
partial fractions of , we can find its inverse Laplace transform immediately. Our
q(s )
suggested method makes use of some well known elementary results of the theory of

96
 Laplace transform. It may be mentioned here that our method is applicable when q(s)
contains repeated quadratic factors of the form (s2 + k2)l or {(s + a)2 + k2}l with l ≥ 2.
This paper deals with the cases when l = 2 and 3. The method can easily be extended
to the cases when l ≥ 4.

References
[1] Boyce, W. E. and DiPrima, R. C., “Elementary Differential Equations and
Boundary Value Problems”, John Wiley & Sone, New York, 1977.
[2] Braun, M., “Differential Equations and Their Applications”, Springer-Verlag,
New York, 1979.
[3] Churchill, R. V., “Operational Mathematics”, McGraw Hill Kogakusha Ltd.,
Tokyo, 1972.
[4] Rainville, E. D. and Bedient, P. E., “Elementary Differential Equations”,
Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc., New York, 1981.
[5] Spiegel, M. R., “Theory and Problems of Laplace Transforms”, Schaum’s Outline
Series, McGraw Hill Book Co., New York, 1965.

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